Israeli Parliament Reverses Kahana Kashrut Reform, Returns Supervision to Chief Rabbinate

The Israeli Knesset approved a law overnight banning fraud in kosher certification, effectively overturning the previous government's 2021 kashrut reform initiated by then-Religious Services Minister Matan Kahana. The vote passed with 46 in favor and 41 against. The new legislation restores authority over kosher certification to the Chief Rabbinate Council, authorized local rabbis, and the military rabbinate, ending the operation of private kosher certification bodies.

The law also regulates various aspects of kosher supervision, including certification standards, the activities of supervising entities, separation between supervisors and supervised businesses, and enhanced oversight of the kosher system. The bill's explanatory notes criticized the 2021 reform for privatizing kosher supervision and transferring powers to private organizations. The Chief Rabbinate and chief rabbis had opposed the reform from the start, advocating that kosher services remain a public service under state responsibility.

Religious Services Minister Michael Malchieli welcomed the law's passage, calling it the conclusion of a prolonged struggle led by the Shas party. He stated, "We succeeded in correcting Kahana's reform, which threatened to breach the walls of kashrut in the Holy Land." Malchieli added that the new reform would strengthen the Chief Rabbinate's status, regulate kosher supervisors' employment conditions, and potentially reduce living costs.